A Peruvian court has sentenced former centre-left president Martin Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after finding him guilty of accepting illicit payments during his tenure as governor of the Moquegua region.
Vizcarra, once known for his strong anti-corruption stance while leading the country from 2018 to 2020, was convicted for actions dating back to his time in regional office, where prosecutors said he engaged in corrupt dealings tied to public works projects.
The former President, who championed the fight against corruption as president from 2018 to 2020, was found guilty of receiving bribes from construction companies while as governor of the southern Moquegua region between 2011 and 2014.
Prosecutors said he received the equivalent of $640,000 in exchange for favoring the companies in the awarding of public works contracts.
The prosecution had sought a slightly longer sentence of 15 years for the 62-year-old
His conviction adds him to a growing list of former Peruvian leaders imprisoned on corruption-related charges. He now joins Pedro Castillo, Ollanta Humala, and Alejandro Toledo, all currently held at a specialized detention facility for ex-presidents in Lima.
Vizcarra has always maintained his innocence.
He was previously detained for 22 days earlier this year over concerns that he might attempt to flee but was later granted bail while his trial proceeded, beginning in October 2024.
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